Dissolved few days ago Activision Blizzard with a diversity tool, which was developed by subsidiary King, caused a controversy. The tool “measures” the diversity of characters in different areas. Skin color, gender, physical limitations and other characteristics play a role. Already last weekend we were in a Report busy with the topic.
Curious video from GDC 2017 surfaced
One presentation As part of the GDC 2017 now shows that the tool has been demonstrated not only on characters from Activision Blizzard games, but also on characters from other studios. These include the heroes from the Super Mario Universe. According to the analysis, the series lacks diversity in some places. The focus was on Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad and Toadette. An example of this lack of diversity is the fact that Characters all hetero are – at least that’s what the analysis team claims.
Also, there are no heroes who physical disabilities exhibit. However, there is praise for them Body shape of Mariospecifically as small and round is described as well as his “rather underrepresented” cultural background as Italian. He also gets plus points age difference between the characters. That’s only because, in King’s eyes, Toad and Toadette children are. The video offers a few more curiosities that we don’t want to withhold from you. If you only want to see the Mario analysis, then jump to the timecode 21:25.
Other games were analyzed with the tool
Super Mario and his friends aren’t the only characters Activision Blizzard scrutinized back then. Also Link, Zelda, Ganondorf and Midna out The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess were analyzed using the diversity tool. Here they came to the conclusion that Link and Co. significantly more variety offer than was the case with the Mario group.
